Lot
653 
Tucson and Patagonia Express. Ingram & Co., Proprietors., printed frank on 3¢ green (U163) entire canceled by bluish-black "Harshaw, Pima Co., Ariz., Jul 18, 1880" cds duplexed with target cancel to Warrensburgh N.Y., some edge wear, Very Fine, Census #WC6470. Thomas Nos. TUP-400 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE TUCSON & PATAGONIA EXPRESS FRANK.
A partnership between John Delamore Kinnear and H.C. Walker had resulted in a stage company that ran between Tucson and Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This affair ended around 1881 and each partner formed his own stage line that ran over the same route. It is believed that John Kinnear formed the Tombstone & Patagonia stage line when the partnership with Walker ended that ran from Tucson, Pantano, Benson, Harshaw, Tombstone and Patagonia in Arizona Territory. He competed with John Kinnear's Arizona Mail & Stage Company. The Souther Pacific Railroad construction train reached Tucson, Pantano & Benson by late 1880. By November 1882, there was a regular railroad service between Benson, and the Gulf of Mexico (Guaymas). The railroad, with Wells Fargo, took over the express business in Arizona.
Realized: $2,200